39 specimens in color and 22 other illustrations.

"An outstanding work, comparable to Kunz's Curious Lore or Magic in respect to authenticity & accuracy of information but not so large in size. Even so, it contains a wealth of material, some of it not to be found in the Kunz works mentioned and making it a desirable complement to them."--Gemology by J. Sinkankas, entry no. 3552.

Partial contents: Study of precious stones in early times -- The most ancient science -- The ephod of the high priest -- The breastplate of judgement -- Interpretation of the breastplate according to ancient philosophy -- The stones of the breastplate and the zodiac -- Old legends -- Stones in various mythologies -- Stones and their stories -- The greatest charms in the world -- Agate: amazonite -- Amber: azurite -- The beryl family -- Ballas: crysocolla -- Chrysolite: crystal -- The diamond -- Some famous and wonderful diamonds and their stories -- Dichroite: iolite -- Jacinth: lodestone -- Malachite: nephrite -- Obisidian: onyx -- The opal -- The flame queen -- Various kinds of opal -- Pearl -- Pearl -- Peridot: ruby -- Rutile: sapphire -- Sardonyx: succinite -- Titanite: topaz -- Tourmalien: zircon -- Stones in Shakespeare's plays -- Forms, compositions, characteristics, zodiacal classification, and places of origin -- Gems in heraldry, magical squares of Abra Melin the Mage, Charubel's gem influences, gems of countries -- The inevitable law of transmutation.

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